"The large-scale homogeneity of the universe makes it very difficult to believe that the structure of the universe is determined by anything so peripheral as some complicated molecular structure on a minor planet orbiting a very average star in the outer suburbs of a fairly typical galaxy."

— Steven Hawking

ebfaulkner6a

Elephant Trunk region

Elephant Trunk region

Taken in August '08  one hour combined image of the Elephant Trunk region processed in Photoshop, false color adds something to it, not sure what! Hehehe.  Shot from Whiting, NJ thru Ha filter.

PELICAN NEBULA

PELICAN NEBULA

Tuesday evening I decided that the clear skies demanded that I participate in astronomy in one form or another.  Tempted to stay in and rest I finally convinced myself I should go outside.  Glad I did. Tracking was right on!

This image of the Pelican Nebula was taken in Ha thru my AstroTech 66mm ED telescope piggybacked on top of my Orion 80ED.  It represents 50 one minute exposure combined, processed in MaxIm DL/CCD and Photoshop.

Eagle Nebula aka NGC6611

Eagle Nebula aka NGC6611

The Eagle Nebula is a 33 minute combined image taken Sunday night, processed in Photoshop.  Another great shot on a sharp clear night low on the horizon.  Also taken using the Orion Ha filter.

Lagoon Nebula

Lagoon Nebula

Sagittarius has many open clusters and a few nebula of which this is one, the Lagoon Nebula.  Sunday night was a 10 out of 10 for seeing, especially for imaging.  This image is only 23 minutes long.  I have a 66 mm scope mounted on top of the Orion 80ed and was viewing the Lagoon Nebula while taking images.  I could not believe my eyes as to the clarity and beauty this nebula shows in a dark sight.  The dark areas could not be illuminated by the stars and appear darker than the background.  Approximately 5,000 light years away and 50 light y

M17 no filter

M17 no filter

43 min image without filter

M17 in Sagittarius

M17 in Sagittarius

Taken Friday evening 7-25-08 M17Ha 13 min exposure.  Skies hazy but had not stopped the camera from imaging .

Trifid Nebula

Trifid Nebula

This is a 13 min combined image of the Trifid Nebula taken from Whiting on Thursday evening 7/24 at11:30 pm, located in Sagattarius which happens to be low in the South.  Orion 80ED, Starlight Xp camera, Orion Ha Filter on Vixen mount.

M51 on a clear night

M51 on a clear night

Another night of perfect skies, just before the muggy weather comes in this weekend.  Tuesday evening I took M51 combined one hour exposure.  Orion 80ed on Vixen mount.  There is another galaxy lower left hand corner, 14 mag I.C.4263, highlighted in dim circle.

Next Time

 Next Time

Thursday evening was extremely clear, 10 our of 10, and I always take advantage of a clear night.  Having chosen the object to image I proceeded to take a one hour image of M63 (NGC5055) magnitude 8.5 .  And as usual another galaxie PGC45992 (Principal Galaxies Catalogue) an 14.8 magnitude galaxy located in the image lower right. 

M109+

M109+